Scrub Chat

Liza Rudolph is a veterinary technician with specializations in canine and feline clinical practice, and small animal internal medicine. She’s also the Veterinary Technician Program Director for Rowan College and is credentialed in six states. She knows the power of career building and her professional journey proves just how important networking is to career building. Check it out!   

Meg Harrington loves all things cattle.  Listen as “The Cattle Vet Tech,’ discusses her experience of charting a wildly successful and fulfilling career in bovine veterinary medicine, herd health, and veterinary technician education.  

Dr. Valerie Marcano is a trailblazer. She embodies the spirit of the famous quote “it is true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” Boarded in poultry medicine, Dr. Marcano launched her own firm offering consultations in both poultry health and DEIB.  She also co-founded Pawsibilities Vet Med as a mentorship resource to increase representation of people from underrepresented and marginalized groups in veterinary medicine.  Listen as she discusses the power of allyship, and the support of people who encourage you to be your best self.

Nicki Castagna’s career is proof positive that there are no limits on where vet techs can take their career.  A Registered Veterinary Technician in Maryland, she has worked in general practice, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, cardiology, wildlife, exotics, aquarium medicine and now as a Senior Lab Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University. And she’s still not done.  She weaves an inspiring narrative for vet techs who possess unquenchable curiosity – have a listen!   

Joe DeFulio’s experience as a veterinary technician is a testament to just how many professional pathways exist for technicians beyond the hospital. Listen as he talks about his journey which includes working in Emergency and Critical Care medicine and hospital management, and a well-timed pivot that led to a fulfilling career in leadership.

Dr. Morgan McArthur knows the power of a good story. After joining Toastmasters International to improve his communications skills years ago, he transitioned from being a veterinarian who speaks to a speaker who is a veterinarian. This highly engaging episode will make you smile, and as a bonus, you’ll even find out what happened when “Betty Bauder Bought Some Bitter Butter.”  Crank up the volume and have a listen!

Host Kim Farina and Producer Garnetta Santiago preview Season 7 of Scrub Chat! A new season of personal stories by veterinary professionals for veterinary professionals.

Join us for another season of incredible guests sharing insights from their journeys in the veterinary profession.

Guests:

Dr. Morgan McArthur, DVM

Joe DeFulio, CVT

Nicki Castagna, RVT

Dr. Valerie Marcano, DVM, Ph.D.

Meg Harrington, CVT

Liza Rudolph, RVT, VTS

You can’t help feeling hopeful after listening to Dr. Hidayah Martínez-Jaka’s story. A recent graduate of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and Immediate Past-President of the National Student American Veterinary Medical Association, she is a shining star in the veterinary profession! Although she didn’t set out to be a leader, she found power in her ability to bring people together and learned first-hand the importance of servant leadership. Listen as Dr. Martínez-Jaka explains her “why,” talks about how leadership is part of everyone’s journey and reminds us of our individual responsibility to empower others to find their paths.

Lasha Hicks knows what she wants and is fearless in the pursuit of her goals. She’s a third-year veterinary student in the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, President of the Class of 2024, and President of the Tuskegee Chapter of SAVMA.  She knows that having the courage to step out of her comfort zone has been central to her success as a veterinary student leader and life overall.   Listen as she discusses the power of challenging assumptions; and the value of connecting with people who help build you up. And if that wasn’t enough, there are also a couple of funny tales about a pet deer named Bartholomew, and a middle-of-the-night clandestine adventure to help catch a couple of rogue cats!

Melody Martínez is an Oregon-based Certified Veterinary Technician who found herself at an inflection point in her career several years ago.  She pivoted from working in clinical practice to establish her own consulting company focused on helping organizations formulate and advance their DEI efforts. Listen as she talks about the importance of reframed skill sets as part of exploring new ways to support the veterinary profession.